Sky

We’ve had several wonderful skies this week. I’ve enjoyed taking pictures.

Saturday’s Sky…

Sunday’s Sky …. Today!

And…

God’s glory is so very evident in the sky and in nature all around us. It comforts my heart and soul.

Meme

I’ve seen these MeMe’s on other’s blogs, and wouldn’t you know…. I’ve been tagged by Kathy!

Here’s how to play…
1. Each player starts with 8 random facts/habits about themselves.
2. People who are tagged write a blog post about their own 8 random things and post these rules.
3. At the end of your blog you need to tag 8 people and post their names.

Eight Random Things

1. I’ve always loved animals….any size, any shape. However, I have an irrational fear of snakes. I know it’s irrational, but still can’t get past it. If I see a snake, I’m headed in the other direction!

2. I’ve recently decided to stop coloring my hair. I’ve earned all this grey hair and I’m not going to cover it up any longer. So, I now have a 1/4 grey, 3/4 brown look to my hair. The area near my scalp is very grey and almost white in some areas, but everything past the first 2 or 3 inches is brown. I am looking forward to my next hair cut and for the brown to eventually all be cut away so it won’t look rather like a grown out, bleached blond in reverse … or as I sometimes say, my skunk hair look (white stripe down the middle). : )

3. I enjoy reading encouraging, entertaining, and happy ending books. I think it’s because my early life had more than enough trauma and drama so now I don’t care to read about anything like that and certainly not for pleasure. Keeping up with the news is enough for me.

4. I think that I’ve now been knitting for over 2 years….getting close to 3.

5. I still occasionally struggle with empty nest syndrome….although it’s been several years since the kids fledged to be on their own.

6. I don’t like to shop for clothes. I’d rather clean the bathroom than go clothes shopping! And, to put this in perspective, I surely don’t desire to clean the bathroom either. I do it because it needs to be done and I find no enjoyment in the process. : ) However, the end product is nice.

7. My husband and I will celebrate our 28th wedding anniversary in November. I’m wilder about him now than I was even when we were dating and newlyweds….although at that time, I would never have dreamed it was possible to love him more.

8. I’m a *green* conservative (a hybrid conservative). : ) I love nature….all of God’s creation…..and try to be a good steward of the earth and all it’s splendor and life. Being *green* is right in line with being a Christian (caring well for what we’ve been blessed with). I never put the environment ahead of the needs of humans, but it’s the next on the priority list (and many times caring for the environment *is* taking care of human life…and animal life). We drive a Prius and take our environmental responsibility seriously in both small and large ways. We had never entertained spending so much for a vehicle, but felt it was important to put our commitment into actions. We also signed up for wind energy from our electric company when it was more expensive than the *normal* electricity. We’ve never regretted making either decision….and recently the wind energy option became less expensive than the normal type of electricity production.

I’m tagging anyone that reads this and wants to play along. I think that should be at least 8 people.

Events of the Week

We had visitors ….

We have Canada Geese visitors frequently. The pairs usually nest at our pond and raise their families each nesting season. We enjoy them so very much and there’s not much that is more calming than watching the geese and ducks swimming on the pond.

The 6 Eastern Bluebird nestlings in the south nestbox near the pond are growing and thriving. On Thursday they looked like this …

And today, Sunday, they look like this …

And the nestbox near the barn, that has the *tallest* Eastern Bluebird nest that I’ve ever seen went from this on Thursday ….

To a nest of 5 warm eggs being incubated today, as seen below …

The oldest Eastern Bluebird hatchlings in the northern nestbox fledged their nestbox this week …

The male parent Bluebird will stay with his newly fledged young for the next couple of weeks. He will care for them and defend them while teaching them to become independent. They should be playing in the birdbath soon!

In knitting news, I’ve completed the Catharina Seaman’s Scarf. It was a very pleasant knit. I haven’t blocked it yet, thus no pictures yet … but soon. I’m still working on the Royal Rainbow socks, but just sporadicly. I haven’t been knitting much this week, but have been busy with other projects and some reading, too.

Doogie is continuing to heal and still on antibiotics. He is doing extremely well, and we hope that his wounds will be completely healed in the next several days.

My heart has been a bit heavy recently. I long for some things to be… that haven’t been…and probably never will be. When my heart is burdened heavily, I find it difficult to blog. However, I know that my Heavenly Father knows my longings and understands my sadness. I look forward to the days of no more tears, but instead being part of a wondrous choir and knowing the purest and most complete joy. I look forward to Heavenly reunions and the possibility of having relationships that have never been possible here. Until that day, I cling to the Lord and His promises … and I press on. With blessings bestowed upon me too numerous to count, it frustrates me that I can still have a heart that feels as if it has been filled with lead and that is so very blue.

I know where to lay these burdens. I know who to ask for help. I know the one that will never disappoint. I just need to look up.

I pray for any of you, who like me, may have heavy hearts or burdens that you feel are too much to bear. The good news is that you do not need to carry those burdens at all. Look up with me….and rejoice in the one who will never let you down and loves you unconditionally. Lay your burdens at His feet and let your heart be light. Know that the one who knows you best, loves you most and will see you through any difficulty … without a doubt. ; )

Your Friend,

Shelly

NIV

Psalm 68:19
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.

Matthew 11:28
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Psalm 5:11
But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

Psalm 13:5
But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.

Psalm 118:24
This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.